APPENDIX M -- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO THE PERMITTING AGENCY
Two keys to developing an effective public participation
program are knowing who within your agency or elsewhere can
provide support on public participation activities and knowing
where to obtain information. Most Regions have one person
assigned as the public involvement coordinator (PIC). The PIC
serves as a liaison between community members and permit
writers, enforcement personnel (both EPA and state), facility
owners and operators, and other individuals or groups. The
PIC oversees the implementation of the overall public
participation program. He or she may handle logistics for
public meetings, develop and maintain mailing lists, and
review and/or help prepare news releases, fact sheets, and
informational materials.
Other individuals who may be able to assist with public
participation activities include:
Other EPA Staff - Other members of the EPA Regional
technical, legal, public affairs, project officer, or permit
writer staffs are also valuable resources. It is essential
that these staff coordinate their efforts. They can provide
technical assessments of the facility for release to the
public or provide information relative to permitting issues
and aspects of enforcement, compliance, and corrective action
activities developed for the facility. Graphic designers,
typesetters, and other support staff can help you with your
program. In addition, CERCLA community relations coordinators
in your office who have sites in the same community could take
care of some of your activities, or at least provide you with
valuable advice.
State Personnel - In authorized states, most of the
public participation responsibilities listed for EPA staff
will be assumed by state personnel. Regardless of
authorization status, state agencies should play an active
role in the development and implementation of public
participation programs. For example, agencies in unauthorized
states can provide information such as names for inclusion on
a mailing list, background information on a facility's
history, and knowledge of community attitudes toward the
facility.
Facility Staff - While oversight of the permitting and
enforcement processes is the sole responsibility of the
regulatory agency, facility owners or operators are
responsible for conducting a number of activities. In
addition, facilities resources and staff can provide for
public participation activities that go beyond the regulatory
requirements.
Public Interest Groups - Community groups, civic
organizations, environmental groups, religious and educational
organizations may all provide public participation activities
that supplement the requirements. The agency may consider
teaming with a local public interest group to provide
opportunities for the public to learn more about the
permitting process or technical issues. Public interest
groups may be able to provide resources or personnel to help
maintain repositories or to provide informational newsletters.
The agency may also consider contacting an impartial civic
organization (e.g., the League of Women Voters) to mediate at
public meetings or other functions.
Contractors - Public participation contractors who work
for your agency can provide support by conducting some of the
more time-consuming activities, such as community interviews
or logistics for public meetings.
If There's No One Who Can Help - You may be the only
person available to conduct public participation activities,
in which case you need to estimate your level of effort
carefully so that you can choose the activities that will give
you and members of the public the most benefit. You need to
consider your schedule as well, and plan activities so that
they complement your technical schedule and leave time for
appropriate public participation.
Additional Sources of Assistance
Information Resources - Each EPA Regional office should
have informational materials available to help plan public
participation strategies and assist in assessing a community's
needs and in implementing responsive activities. PICs should
be able to guide you to specific manuals, guidance documents,
and memoranda that elaborate on regulations and principles of
public participation and give helpful tips on implementing
successful programs. For example, the three-volume RCRA
Public Involvement Reference Catalog (September 1990) is a
repository of materials from which readers can gather ideas
and information concerning the RCRA program and RCRA public
participation. You may also want to research materials from
other EPA programs, such as Superfund, or outside sources to
gather ideas that may be useful in dealing with particular
permitting situations.
Training - Training is generally available for staff in
a variety of areas, including public participation, community
relations, risk communication, and community outreach. If
training specific to the RCRA program is not available, you
can easily adapt community outreach activities used in other
programs to your RCRA situation. The techniques and methods
used for RCRA public participation programs -- such as public
meetings, fact sheets, and information repositories -- are
also used in other programs.
Other Materials - There also are ready-made resources
available for you to use in your program. EPA has developed
fact sheet templates for RCRA actions, storyboards that
describe the permitting process, and other information
materials to save you time in developing public involvement
information. The Regional PIC can provide more information on
these materials.